To start with I should warn you that I read cookbooks like some people read novels. But except for baked goods, I rarely cook from one. But I love absorbing new ideas – and this one, Daisy's Holiday Cooking: Delicious Latin Recipes for Effortless Entertaining
The book is a good balance of event menus, recipes and very practical instructions. Cocktail Party For A Festive Season, for instance, includes seven hors de oeuvres, one drink and one dessert, with recipes for all: Mushroom Croquettes and Chipotle-Pork Meatballs and Tuna Picadillo in Crisp Cucumber Cups. She also includes very practical instructions on basics like cooking beans (she never soaks hers) and making roasted red peppers. Many of the recipes will be appealing even for a crowd that includes non-adventerous eaters. And the big clear pictures are beautiful.
While this book is not going to join the Joy of Cooking or the Silver Spoon as a bedrock of my cookbook collection, I would definitely pull this book out again when I’m looking for ideas to spice up a festive meal! It would also be a fun gift for a cook in your life – unless they are latina, I bet they don’ t have a dozen similar ones already!
Karen is a working momma to a lovely baby girl. If she ever finds the free time she misplaced, she will again share recipes and food tips at friedchickenandcheesesteaks.com, cook more from scratch again, dance, and take a nap. Karen and her family are juggling life in the Philadelphia suburbs.
disclosure: we received a sample to facilitate this review. we were not compensated financially for this post. as always, all opinions are ours.
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